This applies to England
With the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities announcing they will abolish section 21’s, they have proposed strengthening section 8 grounds for possession.
These are set to include:
Sale of a Property – There will be a mandatory ground if the landlord wishes to sell or wants to move into the property, which will remain at two months’ notice. However, if the landlord’s circumstances changed once they had vacant possession. They would not be able to relet the property for three months.
Rent Arrears – if the tenant is in two or more months of rent arrears the notice period will be four weeks instead of the current two weeks. It will also include a new ground that if the tenant is in 2 months’ rent arrears three times or more in a three year period even if the arrears are cleared, a landlord could claim possession and if held, will get possession.
Ground One – Can only currently be used if the landlord had previously lived in the property and may wish to move back. However, this will no longer be a requirement. But they will be able to serve a section eight ground one if the landlord or a family member wants to move into the property.
Holiday Lets – A property can still be let as a holiday/ seasonal let, but the ground for possession of a holiday let will be removed on purpose. This could impact on a landlord’s decision to offer a longer let over the winter, known as a Winter Let normally from October half term until Easter as there will no longer be a section 8 Ground to rely upon to ensure a landlord can have the property back in time for the holiday lets.
Serious Anti-social Behaviour – This is currently four weeks’ notice but the proposal is to reduce this to two weeks’ notice before the landlord can apply for possession.
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